Begonia plant named ‘TMBG0822’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘TMBG0822’, characterized by its upright to spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately freely basal branching habit; freely and continuously flowering habit; strongly fragrant flowers; and double-type flowers that are lemon yellow in color with a light orange-colored reverse.

Botanical designation: Begonia×tuberhybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TMBG0822’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Begonia Plant Named ‘TMBG0802’

Applicant: Charles Valin

Filed: Concurrently with this application, U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/545,195.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×tuberhybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘TMBG0822’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Harkstead, Ipswich, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new trailing Begonia plants with fragrant flowers.

The new Begonia plant originated from a self-pollination made by the Inventor in August, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BG #001, not patented. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Harkstead, Ipswich, United Kingdom in July, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by shoot tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Harkstead, Ipswich, United Kingdom since August, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘TMBG0822’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘TMBG0822’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to spreading and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Freely and continuously flowering habit.     -   4. Strongly fragrant flowers.     -   5. Double-type flowers that are lemon yellow in color with a         light orange-colored reverse.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Begonia are darker green in color         than leaves of plants of the parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely flowering than         plants of the parent selection.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are more fragrant than         flowers of plants of the parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Begonia and the parent selection differ in         flower color as flowers of plants of the parent selection are         apricot in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘TMBG0802’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/545,195. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘TMBG0802’ in flower color as plants of ‘TMBG0802’ have yellow to apricot-colored flowers with a light salmon orange-colored reverse. In addition, plants of the new Begonia only produce male flowers whereas plants of ‘TMBG0802’ produce male and female flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the Begonia pendula ‘Victoria Falls’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,653. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Harkstead, Ipswich, United Kingdom, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of ‘Victoria Falls’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Victoria Falls’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia were more fragrant than         flowers of plants of ‘Victoria Falls’.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Victoria Falls’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Victoria Falls’ had bright         orange-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘TMBG0822’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close up views of upper and lower surfaces of typical fully developed double flowers, developing double flower (outer surface only) and leaves of ‘TMBG0822’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements were grown in 12-cm containers during the winter in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C. and light levels averaged 6,000 lux. Plants were eight weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘TMBG0822’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BG #001, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BG #001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By shoot tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 20 days at             temperatures of about 20° C. to 23° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures of about 20° C. to 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 35 days             at temperatures of about 20° C. to 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 35 to 38             days at temperatures of about 20° C. to 23° C.         -   Root description.—Thin, fibrous; light brown in color;             plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to form             tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright to spreading and             mounded plant habit; flattened globular in shape; moderately             freely basal branching with about six primary branches per             plant; primary branches with secondary branches at             potentially every node; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 13.5 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 20.8 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter:             About 8 mm. Internode length: About 8 mm. Aspect: About 30°             from vertical. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color,             developed: Close to 146C and slightly tinged with close to             152A. Color, developed: Close to 146C.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 11.6 cm. Width: About 6.9 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Unequal hastate. Margin: Bi-serrate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; velvety.             Venation pattern: Palmate; reticulate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Darker than 147A and heavily tinged             with close to N200A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close             to 187C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Much darker             than between 139A and 147A; venation, close to 143A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 183B to 183C;             venation, close to 143A. Petioles: Length: About 4.6 cm.             Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Moderately pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 152A; distally, close to 180A. Color, lower surface:             Close to 165A; distally, close to 183A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Double-type (male) rotate flowers arranged             in axillary cymes; freely flowering habit with about two             flowers per cyme and about 36 flowers developing per plant;             flowers face mostly outwardly to slightly upright.         -   Fragrance.—Strongly fragrant; fragrance pleasant, sweetly             acidic; similar to rose and citrus.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about four             to six weeks after planting; long flowering period, in the             garden plants flower freely and continuously from spring             until autumn in The Netherlands and plants can be flowered             year-round in greenhouses.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 9.9 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10.3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 0.9 cm to             2.4 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to nearly circular, flattened.             Color: Close to 149D tinged with close to 31C to 31D.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 9 cm. Depth (height): About 4.5 cm.         -   Tepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically two per flower.             Length: About 5.3 cm. Width: About 6.1 cm. Shape: Nearly             orbicular. Apex: Obtuse, rounded. Margin: Irregularly finely             crenate. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety.             Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 4C and 11A to             11B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 2D tinged with             close to 31C; towards the apex, close to N34D. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 3C to 3D; towards the apical margins             and apex, tinged with close to 26D; color does not fade with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to between             2D and 3D; center and towards the apex, tinged with close to             N34C; color does not fade with development.         -   Tepaloids.—Quantity per flower: Typically about 40 per             flower. Length: About 1.4 cm to 4.7 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm             to 5.3 cm. Shape: Broadly obcordate to broadly obovate.             Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly velvety. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to between 155A and 4D; towards the apex,             close to 2D. When opening, lower surface: Close to between             155A and 4D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 5D;             towards the margins, close to 4D; color does not fade with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 4D; color             does not fade with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Angle: About 20° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 152B;             proximally, tinged with close to 179B; distally, closer to             146C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Aspect: About 25° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 151A;             proximally, close to N144C to N144D.         -   Reproductive organs.—None observed; all stamens on male             flowers transformed into tepaloids.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Begonia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘TMBG0822’ as illustrated and described. 